ON Wednesday 19th September, Leinster Schools will play again at home in Donnybrook against Connacht Schools. For those with any enthusiasm for the future of Leinster and irish rugby, this is a date to set a reminder in your phone.
In Donnybrook this afternoon the latest galaxy from the Leinster development room displayed their skills in a superb game against Ulster. Don't be deceived by the scoreline, which ended as a magnificant 68-5 win to Leinster, 10 tries to one, this was a great competitive game of rugby - everywhere except on the scoreboard. The Leinster team contained an assortment of talented backs and forwards, a number of whom will definitely progress to higher honours and maybe right up to senior international green jerseys. But a number of the Ulster boys also exhibited the highest skills and ability and will undoubtedly progress to professional rugby careers.
Foe Leinster there were five tries in the first half, without any dominance in the forwards. There were five more in the second half when both teams had emptied the bench of almost all their substitutes.
The Leinster players who caught the eye of this observer were more in number than those who didn't! But nit would be implossible to give any account of this game without mentioning the excitement generated by the skills of
Billy Dardis (Terenure College) at full-back.
James McCormack (Castleknock's left-winger) and
Fergal Cleary (Clongowes Wood - center) each contributed two tries with real pace and footwork whilst
Harrison Brewer(Terenure College) set-up much that was good in the Leinster back-play. Out-half
Ross Byrne (St Michael's) contributed 9 converts, although never the major threat to the Ulster defence. Up front,
Oisin Heffernan the Roscrea loose-head prop demonstrated the sort of strength and rugby skills last seen at this level when Cian Healy played for Belvedere. The entire Leinster back-row of
Patrick Thornton (Terenure No 7),
Josh Murphy (St Michael's No 6) and
Nick Timoney (Blackrock No
showed skills of the higest standards - both in attack and defence. It will be no surprise to see Murphy and Timoney graduate to higher levels in the coming years as both have the natural physiques for the professional game. Thornton however, although a slight as Keith Gleeson when he first arrived into Leinster rugby, demonstrated many of the traits of that great No 7 with top class tackling and great support play.
Not all the stars started the game and the performance off the bench by
Tim Schmidt (Terenure College and son of the esteemed Joe), as sub scrum-half, was astonishing as he displayed immaculate passing and then a stunning breakaway try from the back of a line-out - 45 metres from his opponents line. He was joined in the honours list by sub second-row
James Ryan (St Michael's) who excelled in tight and loose and did not look the slighest bit over-awed by his big opponents.
Michael Courtney (CBC Monkstown) replaced centre Cleary in the first-half and also showed great skills in contributing two scoring passes in the second half.
Despite the margin of defeat this was no mediocre Ulster team. They had excellent players throughout the team and Methody loose-head
Michael Lagan, Down HS second-row
Tom Donnan and captain
Daryly Morton, playing at No 8 and representing Royal School Armagh, all showing high-class talent and great individual ability.
Rory Campbell (RBAI) on the left wing saved a couple of certain scores early on and full-back
Jack Owens (Campbell) were others to demonstrate good skills and a competitive edge right to the final whistle. However scrum-half
Josh Fullerton was perhaps the most impressive player in the Ulster back-line and a name which we shall see more of in the coming years.
With such players setting the standards and the Schools Interpros being played at such a benign time of the Season, the future of one source of future Irish players looks in great hands. Clearly much credit must go to the coaches and strength and conditioning staff for the preparation of these players for a game of this quality, at this time of the year. In addition, both coaching staffs deserve the highest praise for the manner in which the game was played. This game could have been shown on TV without any fear about the quality of the fare on offer.
